Three Perthshire Creatives
This week’s episode focused on three different Perthshire creatives. It’s also the first time we’ve pre-recorded an episode (hence the post here so that the links are easy to find).
Our Perthshire creatives focus includes three different creatives. First is the ‘The Grey Earl’ and his Star Wars/ popular culture-inspired artwork and greeting cards. We also look at June McEwan who, among other things, creates distinctive large (sometimes life-sized) willow animals. Finally, we focus on Storyteller Claire Hewitt. Being there for Claire’s storytelling is so different from simply hearing someone reading from a book. Hopefully, my description of it does it some justice.
In the podcast episode itself, we also looked at ways to automate and improve your email list support and social media scheduling. On top of this was a call to action for listeners to share this podcast with others, as well as join the WhatsApp group. You can listen in to this by following this link and clicking on your favourite podcast platform.
As always, thanks for listening in and we’ll see you next week.
The Grey Earl
Jon Bishop studied illustration at The University of Dundee, then worked as a community artist in Glasgow before appointing himself as the ‘Grey Earl’.
‘Grey’ is definitely not a reference to his fun, lighthearted, sometimes very touching artworks and it sounds like the ‘Grey Earl’ thing has a lot more to do with his self-confessed love of tea.
If you visit his website you’ll see what I mean, as he uses characters from popular culture in new and surprising ways.
Whether it’s a card for dad featuring Darth Vader or a Valentine’s card featuring a ‘face hugger’ from the ‘Alien’ films, there’s a distinct and charming take on each franchise for all sorts of folk. His greeting cards are in fact SO creative that they won ‘Most Creative Greeting Card Design Expert’ in the Scottish Enterprise Awards in 2021. (https://www.sme-news.co.uk/winners/the-grey-earl-2/)
His work also encompasses illustration and design work for Edinburgh Fringe, Glasgow Museums, The Scottish Book Trust, and Visible Fictions.
You can find out more about him on his website https://www.thegreyearl.com/about
June McEwan
Based in Crieff, June is a ‘well Kent’ face around here as she participates in so many community projects. Somehow she finds the time to create an incredible array of artworks.
Her company ‘The Works’ produces traditional historic murals, to face painting, to graphic design, as well as her ‘biggest’ pieces willow works.
June offers a selection of willow pieces on her Etsy shop, including dogs, and larger animals (including dolphins, giraffes, and some very friendly-looking Highland coos).
You can find links to her Etsy shop, and contact details over on her website at www.junemcewan.biz
Claire Hewitt
Claire grew up in Cheshire, studied fine arts in Yorkshire, lived with a nomadic tribe in Kenya, and now calls Highland Perthshire her home.
I’ve nabbed a bit of copy listing Claire’s extensive storytelling experience from the Traditional arts culture Scotland website. I’m hoping they won’t mind. (https://tracscotland.org/storytellers/claire-hewitt/)
Claire has worked on a series of Storytelling projects for Historic Scotland at Stanley Mills; National Library of Scotland; Artlink Central; Stirling Royal Infirmary Acute Children’s and Day Ward; The Bridges Project; The Enchanted Forest; Forest Education Network; The Scottish Storytelling Centre; Aviemore Reindeer Centre and one-off Storytelling events/residencies around Scotland, Arctic Circle and Bulgaria. Claire is happy to tell anywhere.
I’ve been lucky enough to hear Claire’s tales a few times whilst tagging along with my kids and her performances always draw everyone in, young and old alike. It feels like you’re gathered around a campfire enjoying the same sorts of tales that humans have enjoyed since before the written word.
Storytelling like this isn’t simply a story read from a book, it’s performative, it’s captivating, and entertaining on a whole different level. I heartily recommend getting along to a telling by Claire.
If you find these transcripts helpful, please leave a message below and I’ll try to add a new one for each new podcast. Thanks for stopping by, All the best, John
Green Flame Creative 
Perthshire Hour! Loving it. Thanks for the mention x
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No problem June 😊
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